Monday, 24 October 2011

Twenty years on since Cianide’s sinister debut The Dying Truth, and not once have these Chicago crushers compromise their brand of primitive death doom for any trends. Ironically calling their 5th full length Gods of Death, Cianide prove why they are still leaders of the underground.

Seven years on after their last full length Hell Rebirth this formidable trio have not lost any Vitriol at all. With that signature crushing tone Gods of death is sledgehammer to the skull Constructed with bruising straightforward riffs and earth quaking Celtic Frost rhythm. From the infectious power chord pulling in Forsaken Doomor the hurtling of Idolator and Rising Of The Beast that charge forward like stampede of flea infested rhino, the sheer simples ness and heaviness will have most salivating. Expected there is bit of doom and gloom. The Dead and Rotting trudges along bulldozing anything that gets caught in its path, slowly picking up the pace before erupting into absolute monstrous riff, making the six minute wait well worth it. The longest song The One True Death unfortunately is rather monotonous, unlike its doom counter part it does not build up to anything and plods around for far too long. Being left to the end of Gods of Death leaves the album on a bit of disappointing note. But since all the songs are stellar make this complaint a minor affair.

Gods of Death is no landmark in death metal, but indisputably to Cianides consistency for over the last twenty years and having stood the test of time. So don’t expect anything innovative from this death dealing trio other then their rotting formula of crushing death metal.

Sunday, 16 October 2011

Here we have two young death metal bands both with high caliber releases under their belts, that being Vasaeleth full length Crypt Born & Tethered to Ruin and Cruciamentum demo Convocation of Crawling Chaos. On this 7’ split one could only expect to hear some filthy death metal tunes. And Eroding Chaos unto Ascendant Flesh definitely delivers. Cruciamentum track Rites to the Abduction of Essence composition sounds very akin what was on there previous demo, though with a shift in production and vocal style. The production is slightly cleaner and the vocals are less guttural being more of a slight raspy growl. Despite the minor changes the track still retains its sinter edge. While on the Vasaeleth side, Profane Ceremonial Exudation sounds like anything off Crypt Born & Tethered to Ruin,so expect muddy Incantation-esque production and crushing doom riffs. Unfortunately the fact that their in only one track offered by each band is slightly disappointing, especially since many would be craving new Cruciamentum material.

Sunday, 9 October 2011

Belgium label Detest Records has been adding some impressive death metal revial bands to thier roster, from likes of Stench of Decay, Swallowed and Miasmal. Beyond is not different. Changing their name from Shapeless after two demos, German horde Beyond offers three grimy tracks in the vein of that Scandinavian death metal tradition.

The guitars pack a fuzzy punch, vocals are violently bellowed and though the drumming is slightly lacking it still manages to hold everything together. The production is raw giving the music a malicious edge. Aswell Beyond show some of their musicianship skills by weaving some mid-paced sections amongst their violentassault. Thrash elements also churn through Relentless Abomination Vortex, the opening riff on Pointless Prayers reminder of Nifelheim venomous blackened thrash assault. While hints of Celtic Frost are also noticeable, especially at the end of Appearance From Beyond, with the Tom. G. Warrior-esque “OOOOHHH” which is then followed by pummeling Celtic Frost sounding rhythms. Regardless Beyond wears their death metal influences on their sleeve for the most part of the demo. Though not at the same level of some of their Detest Records peers, Relentless Abomination Vortex is a very good indictor of what we can expect from this German horde in the future.

Tuesday, 4 October 2011

Amongst the Incantations clones and Sunlight studio revival bands that populate current underground death metal scene, only very few bands reinvent or create an original formula. And Lanterns is definitely one of them. Slivering out of the Finland, Lanterns exhales an unmarked stench into the crypt of death metal. Reeking of old school sounds like Treblinka, Morbid and Hellhammer mixed with their own morbid visions of death, spawning a very unique cryptic sound.

Multi-instrumentalist Cruciatus spews forth gloomy and thrashy riffs, battering drumming and heaving bass lines. While vocalist Necophilos sinister wails tie everything into murky aura. Lurching forward like shambling corpse fresh from the tomb, Revert the Living into Death begins your plunge into Subterranean Effulgence, with haunting melodies and dark leads. Drenched in gruesome howls and steamrolling riffs Slumbering Dying Dreams displays some raw old school thrash elements creeping through, with out loosing sightof the grisly atmosphere.. While the maniac occult cries of “RITUAL” at the end of Ritual Unearthing hammer the final nail into the lid of the coffin shut.

Lanterns sound so familiar yet different, not falling into any of the current trends in death metal. Concocting their own morbid art, Lanterns is one step closer to claiming the thorny crown of death metal.